GPS News
AFRICA NEWS
Amnesty accuses DR Congo army of 'possible crimes against humanity'
Amnesty accuses DR Congo army of 'possible crimes against humanity'
by AFP Staff Writers
Goma, Dr Congo (AFP) Dec 11, 2024

Amnesty International in a statement Wednesday accused senior Congolese army officers of "possible crimes against humanity" in a massacre in the northeastern city of Goma that killed 56 people last year.

Elite troops from the Republic Guard stormed the temple of a mystic religious group in the North Kivu capital Goma on August 30, 2023, an area embroiled in armed violence for three decades.

Most of the victims were members of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations, whose leader had called a protest to demand the departure of foreign NGOs and the UN force from the area.

"Authorities said 56 people were killed, but a confidential UN report seen by Amnesty put the number at 102, including 90 men, eight women and four boys, and 80 more injured," the rights group said, adding that 10 more could be missing.

Amnesty said it had "identified three army officers who should be individually investigated -- and with sufficient evidence, prosecuted -- for possible crimes against humanity".

The officers named were Constant Ndima Kongba, the former military governor of North Kivu province, Colonel Mike Mikombe Kalamba, a Republican Guard commander, and Major Peter Kabwe Ngandu, who reported to Mikombe during the operation.

A Congolese court in October 2023 sentenced Mikombe to death and three other soldiers to 10 years in prison for murder.

"Amnesty International demands the UN Department of Peace Operations swiftly initiates an independent inquiry into MONUSCO's role, including by its leadership -- and publicise their findings," the report added, referring to the UN peacekeeping mission.

The Christian-animist group in late August told AFP it had tallied 103 killed in the massacre.

Eastern DRC has been ravaged by militia violence for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
'Can't leave them to it': ex-child soldier urges help for Sudan kids
Nairobi (AFP) Dec 5, 2024
A former child soldier has urged the world to do more to help children devastated by Sudan's brutal civil war, telling AFP on Thursday that "we can't just leave them to it". Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed tens of thousands, and displaced almost 11 million - among them five million children. The United Nations warned earlier this year that "an entire generation could be destroyed", with millions facing disease and malnutrit ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Agricultural land at river confluences reduces flood risks

Gene editing and plant domestication vital to safeguard global food security

Neem seed extract improves effectiveness of pesticide

Brazil's beef industry: key to EU-Mercosur trade deal

AFRICA NEWS
New AI cracks complex engineering problems faster than supercomputers

Rethinking the quantum chip

Researchers design new materials for advanced chip manufacturing

Superconducting quantum processors enable precise insights into quantum transport

AFRICA NEWS
NASA Scientific Balloon Flights to Lift Off From Antarctica

Study defines sustainable aviation and provides framework for progress

Qatar to invest 1 bn pounds in climate technologies with UK

Macron says Paris, Riyadh have 'will' to progress fighter jet sale

AFRICA NEWS
BMW boss sees no need to delay EU emissions targets

Breakthrough in EV battery monitoring with advanced random forest algorithm

Want to design the car of the future? Here are 8,000 designs to get you started

Germany charges ex-Continental execs over 'Dieselgate'

AFRICA NEWS
Hong Kong, Shanghai rally on China optimism as Seoul rebounds

China's leaders vow more 'relaxed' monetary policy in 2025

Chinese premier warns world financial leaders of 'deglobalisation' risks

China consumer prices rise at slower rate in November

AFRICA NEWS
Cambodian journalist investigating illegal logging shot dead

Mangroves save $855 billion in flood protection globally, new study shows

After decades of plantation agriculture, coconut palms dominate over half of Pacific atoll forests

Beeches thrive in France's Verdun in flight from climate change

AFRICA NEWS
SatVu secures ESA funding for high-resolution thermal imaging project in energy sector

Lessons from Earth's ancient climate show risks of shrinking tropical rain belts

NASA selects SwRI for NOAA space weather instrument development

Constellr secures long-term partnership with DLR

AFRICA NEWS
New Technique Enables Mass Production of Metal Nanowires

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.